Argyranthemum plant named ‘ARG B07’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Argyranthemum  plant named ‘ARG B07’, characterized by its compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; freely branching growth habit; dense and bushy habit; freely flowering habit; semi-double-type inflorescences with bright yellow-colored ray florets and darker yellow-colored disc florets; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Argyranthemum hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ARG B07’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofArgyranthemum plant, botanically known as Argyranthemum hybrida andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘ARG B07’.

The new Argyranthemum plant is a naturally-occurring whole plantmutation of an unidentified selection of Argyranthemum hybrida, notpatented. The new Argyranthemum was discovered and selected by theInventor as a single flowering plant from within a population of plantsof the parent selection in a controlled greenhouse environment inSwavesey, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom in June, 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Argyranthemum plant by vegetativecuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Swavesey,Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom since the spring of 2006 has shown thatthe unique features of this new Argyranthemum plant are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Argyranthemum have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘ARG B07’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘ARG B07’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofArgyranthemum:

-   -   1. Compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounded plant        habit.    -   2. Freely branching growth habit; dense and bushy habit.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Semi-double-type inflorescences with bright yellow-colored        ray florets and darker yellow-colored disc florets.    -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Argyranthemum differ from plants of the parentselection primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Argyranthemum are more compact than plants        of the parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Argyranthemum are more freely branching        than plants of the parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Argyranthemum are more freely flowering        than plants of the parent selection.

Plants of the new Argyranthemum can be compared to plants of theArgyranthemum ‘Butterfly’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted in Swavesey, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom, plants of the newArgyranthemum differed from plants of ‘Butterfly’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Argyranthemum were more compact than and        plants of ‘Butterfly’.    -   2. Plants of the new Argyranthemum were more freely branching        than plants of ‘Butterfly’.    -   3. Plants of the new Argyranthemum were more freely flowering        than plants of ‘Butterfly’.    -   4. Plants of the new Argyranthemum were more heat tolerant than        plants of ‘Butterfly’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Argyranthemum. These photographs show the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Argyranthemum plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering stem of ‘ARG 07’.

The photographs on the second and third sheets are close-up views oftypical inflorescences of ‘ARG B07’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown in a glass-covered greenhouse duringthe spring and summer in Swavesey, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom andunder conditions and practices which approximate those generally used incommercial Argyranthemum production. During the production of theplants, day temperatures averaged 25° C. and night temperatures averaged16° C. Rooted young plants were planted in 16-cm containers and had beengrowing for one month when the photographs were taken and had beengrowing for five months when the description was taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Argyranthemum hybrida ‘ARG B07’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of an    unidentified selection of Argyranthemum hybrida, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Vegetative tip cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five to seven days at            temperatures of 22° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven to ten days at            temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 12 to 16            days at temperatures of 22° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 18 to 22            days at temperatures of 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fleshy, medium in thickness; white in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Appearance.—Herbaceous semi-double-type potted            Argyranthemum; compact, upright to outwardly spreading and            mounded plant habit; freely branching growth habit; dense            and bushy habit.        -   Plant height.—About 40 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 35 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Internode length: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous; longitudinally ridged. Angle: About 45° from            vertical. Color: Close to 144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sessile.        -   Length.—About 6.5 cm.        -   Width.—About 3.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Deeply pinnate or bipinnate.        -   Apex.—Apiculate.        -   Base.—Narrowly acuminate.        -   Margin.—Senate; deeply incised.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;            leathery.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Close to 137A; towards the base, close to 143C; venation,            close to 137A. Developing and fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 137B; venation, close to 138B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Semi-double-type inflorescence form with            lanceolate to obovate-shaped ray florets; inflorescences            borne on terminal and axillary peduncles above foliage; disc            and ray florets arranged acropetally on a capitulum; freely            flowering habit.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flowering season.—Plants begin flowering during the summer            and continue flowering until the end of October in            Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom; inflorescences persistent.        -   Inflorescence bud.—Height: About 9 mm. Diameter: About 9 mm.            Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 6B.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 6.5 cm. Depth (height):            About 2 cm. Diameter of disc: About 1.5 cm.        -   Ray florets.—Orientation: About 30° from the peduncle axis,            eventually perpendicular to the peduncle; flat with apices            reflexing with development. Length: About 3 cm. Width: About            9 mm. Shape: Lanceolate to obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base:            Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; longitudinally ridged. Number of ray            florets per inflorescence: About 21 arranged in two whorls.            Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close            to 5A. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close            to 8B.        -   Disc florets.—Arrangement: Numerous disc florets massed at            center of receptacle. Shape: Tubular, elongated. Apex:            Five-pointed. Length: About 5 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Color,            immature and mature: Close to 17A.        -   Phyllaries.—Number of phyllaries per inflorescence:            About 30. Length: About 6 mm Width: About 4 mm. Shape: Ovate            to deltoid. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire, papery. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper            surface: Close to 137C.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 6.5 cm.            Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 2 mm. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous; longitudinally ridged. Color: Close to 137D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium (present on disc florets            only): Quantity per disc floret: Five. Filament length:            About 1.5 mm. Filament color: Close to 4C. Anther shape:            Lanceolate. Anther length: About 1.5 mm. Anther diameter:            Less than 0.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 13B. Pollen amount:            None observed. Gynoecium (present on ray and disc florets):            Stigma shape: Two-parted. Stigma color: Close to 17B. Style            length: About 3 mm. Style color: Close to 13A. Ovary color:            Close to 145D.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to    Argyranthemums has not been observed on plants grown under    commercial conditions.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Argyranthemum have been    observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate strong    winds, rain and temperatures ranging from about −2° C. to 3° C. to    about 35° C. to 38° C.

1. A new and distinct Argyranthemum plant named ‘ARG B07’ as illustratedand described.